DRUG USE TRIPLES

THE rate of drug abuse has trebled throughout the country over the past few
years, according to research by the Health Research Board. The rate of new
cases coming for treatment in the Mid West has shot up by 44 new cases per
100,000 population.

The main problem drug remains cannabis, with ecstasy running a close
second. Cocaine use has increased seven fold, but the actual number of
users remains small. Other trends uncovered included the fact that the
number of cases where drugs were injected trebled. Injecting drugs carries
the risk of infections such as HIV and hepatitis, especially if needles are
shared.

There has also been a slight increase in the number of drug abusers under
18 seeking treatment.

The Health Research Board said that the broad spectrum of drugs used in
this country indicates a need for treatment centres which cater for both
licit and illicit drugs. They also noted that those under 18 needed a
different approach to treatment, and this needs to be recognised in service
planning.

Dr Jean Long, senior researcher with the Health Research Board, said she
was particularly concerned about the increase in the number of people
injecting drugs. "Injectors have a higher risk of acquiring blood-borne
viral infections and experiencing overdose than non-injectors. This points
to a need for drug treatment services to continue to take a proactive
approach to prevention, harm reduction, and treatment interventions that
target viruses like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in particular, as well
as opiate-related overdoses."